Cutting machine drive means



Dec. 15, 1953 w. P. GALLAGHER CUTTING MACHINE DRIVE MEANS 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Sept. 21, 1949 /6 Ag A26 3 1 INVENTOR. WZZZCZ/n Z? al 667 Dec. 15, 1953 w. P. GALLAGHER 2,662,413

CUTTING MACHINE DRIVE MEANS Filed Sept. 21, 1949 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 *iliigiliilfligiitlii Patented Dec. 15, 1953 CUTTING MACHINE DRIVE MEANS.

William P. Gallagher, Chicago, IlL, assignor to International Register Company, Chicago, 111., a corporation of Illinois Application September 21, 1948, Serial No. 117,037

2 Claims. 1

This invention relates to cutting machines, and

has to do with a cutting machine of the type in which the machine is moved over the material being-cut by means of a reciprocating tool connected to a plunger for reciprocation therewith and for swinging movement thereabout, the tool being eccentric to the plunger so as normally to trail the latter in the movement of the machine over the work.

The present invention is in the nature of an improvement over the machine disclosed in my Patent, No. 2,239,287, issued April 22, 1941, and is directed to improved plunger mounting and operating means. The plunger is connected to the operating crank: pin therefor by anti-friction bearing means and a cooperating yoke detachably secured to the plunger in such manner as to permit ready removal and replacement of the plunger, while also permitting ready removal and replacement of the yoke for access to the crank pin block and associated parts. Further objects and advantages of my invention will appear from the detailed description.

In the drawings:

Figure l is a lengthwise central vertical sectional view through a cutting machine embodying my invention, with parts broken away and other parts shown in elevation;

Figure 2 is a fragmentary front view of the machine of Figure l with the cover for the compartment in the upper portion of the housing removed and the guide rod supporting assembly turned through 180 from its position shown in Figure 1;

Figure 3 is a view of the guide rod assembly supporting sleeve as viewed in Figure 2, but with the cover plate of the recess in the sleeve omitted;

Figure 4 is a sectional view taken substantially on line 4-- 4 of Figure 1;

Figure 5 is a sectional view taken substantially on line 55 of Figure l;

, Figure 6 is a front view of the drive shaft and of the head secured thereon;

Figure '7 is a sectional view taken substantially on line 'l'i, of Figure 1; and

Figure 8 is a sectional view taken substantially on line 3-8 of Figure 1.

The machine comprises a base plate I 0 of generally rectangular shape having a planar underface .of considerable area, which supports the machine upon the work for sliding movement thereover. At its forward end base plate IE is provided with a subs antially .h ped notch. ll, prov g two f rwardly ext n i p ojections, one of which is shown at [2, to each of which is secured a post [3 having a knob i4 secured upon its upper end. Base plate to is suitably secured, conveniently by means of screws, to the bottom of a lower housing section having a front wall It and provided, at the top of each side Wall, with an inwardly extending reinforcing flange 11. An upper housing section It extends over and seats upon the lower section l5 and is secured thereto in a suitable manner, conveniently by screws l9 passing through flanges l'. and threading into bosses formed integrally with housing section [B and projecting inward from the side walls thereof. Housing section I8 is provided with an elongated forwardly flaring opening 2! in its upper portion, with a top wall 22 below opening 2|, a portion 23 of section l8 above opening 2! providing a convenient handle for lifting and carrying the machine. Sections 55 and it together form a housing within which the working parts of the machine are mounted.

An electric motor 25, preferably a universal motor, is suitably secured, conveniently by means of screws, on th upper face of base plate Ill. A double pulley 21 is splined on shaft 28 of motor 26 for rotation with the shaft and relative movement lengthwise thereof, movement of pulley 21 outward along shaft 28 being limited by a stop member 2-9. The pulley 2'! comprises two V-pulley elements either of which may receive a V belt 30 which passes about a v pulley 3| of known type which is suitably secured on the rearward end of a tubular shaft 32. The belt 30 is maintained under proper tension by means of a belt tightener 33 similar to that disclosed in my above identified patent. The motor 25- may be driven at either one of two speeds and is controlled by two. switches, one of which is shown at t l, of suitable type, there being a suitable resistor (not shown) associated with one of th switches 34. Provision for driving the motor 25 at two speeds renders it possible, in conjunction with the double pulley 21, to drive shaft 32 at four different speeds to. suit requirements or as desired.

The upper housing section 18 is provided with two interior relatively thick webs 3'! and 38, defining annular supports spaced apart lengthwise of housing section [8 and disposed coaxially with their common axis in the central transverse vertical plane of housing section It. The web elements 1. and 38 receive collars 39 and 40, respectivel'y. These two collars 39 and M! are secured to the ends of a, sleeve 4!. through which th tubular shaft 32 extends, this shaft being disposed eccentrical'ly of the sleeve and adjustable, by turning thereof, toward and away from the mounted in collar 40.

base plate ID, as will appear more fully presently. The collars 36 and ii! are mounted for turning movement in the web elements 3? and 38, respectively. A ball bearing 42 of known type is mounted in collar 39 eccentrically thereto, and a roller bearing 43, of known type, is The bearings 42 and 43 support the tubular shaft 32 for rotation in sleeve 4| eccentrically thereto. A dog pointed screw 44, threaded through the lower portion of web element 31, engages into a circumferential groove in collar 36, this groove being of appropriate length for limiting turning movement of collar 39 in either direction for effecting the desired adjustments of shaft 32 toward and away from base plate Ill. An annular plate 45 is suitably secured, conveniently by screws, to the rearward end of the collar 39, this plate being provided with a handle element 46 or adjusting lever extending therefrom upward through a slot 41 in the top wall of housing section it? and providing convenient means for adjusting the collar 39, and with it sleeve ii and collar 46. In that manner, th tubular shaft 32 may be adjusted toward and away from base plate It] as previously noted. A head 43 is secured upon the forward end of shaft 32, this head being provided with a reduced neck which contacts the inner race of the roller bearing 43, as will be understood. Two lock nuts 49 are screwed upon the rearward portion on shaft 32, the inner one of thes nuts contacting the inner race of the ball bearing 42. The shaft 32 is thus confined against endwise movement relative to sleeve 4| and collars 39 and. 46, and. is rotatably mounted in the latter for adjustment toward and away from the base plate ID by turning of collar 39 in proper direction, by means of the handle or lever 46. A dog pointed set screw 50, threaded through the top of housing section [6 adjacent the rear of opening 2!, engages in a circumferential groove in collar 39 and may be turned into binding contact with the latter, providing convenient means for securing collar 39 and hence the sleeve 4! and shaft 32 in desired adjustment. Preferably, a second set screw threaded through the top wall of the upper housing section I8, is disposed to be turned into binding engagement with collar 40, providing additional means for locking the sleev 4! and associated parts in adjustment.

The head 48 is disposed within a compartment 54 at the front of upper housing section I8. Head 48 is provided with a diametrical groove 55 of considerable width opening from its outer face. A counterweight block 56 is slidably mounted in groove 55 and seats against head 48 at the inner or rearward side of groove 55. The block 56 is of approximately oblong shape and of laminated construction. It comprises two U-shaped plates 5'! spaced apart by end bars 58 secured between them by riveting or in other suitable manner. A counterweight 59, also of laminated construction, is secured to one end of the counterweight block 56, conveniently by the rivets which secure the corresponding end bar 58 to the block 56, additional rivets being provided for securing the laminations of the counterweight 59 together. Preferably, th counterweight 59 is of arcuate shape and extends about the head 48 for movement transversely thereof toward and away from shaft 32.

A crank pin block 62 is slidable in groove 55 of head 48 at the outer face of the counterweight block 56. The block 62 is of elongated U-shape in lengthwise section and comprises an outer plate 63 and an inner plate 64 integrally connected to plate 33 at one end, there being an end bar or filler plate 65 secured between plates 63 and 64 at the other end thereof. The blocks 56 and 62 receive between the arms thereof two oppositely disposed eccentrics 66 and 61, respectively, suitably secured upon an adjusting rod 68 extending through shaft 32, slidable therethrough and, under certain conditions which will be explained presently, rotatable relative to shaft 32 for varying the angular relation between the latter shaft and. rod 63. As will be clear from what has been said, both arms or plates of block 56 and the inner plate of block 63 are slotted lengthwise to accommodate adjusting rod 68 and relative movement of blocks 56 and 62 transversely of head 48. The eccentrics 66 and 61 contact the end walls or plates of blocks 56 and 62, respectively, as shown and as will be clear from what has been said. By turning the rod 68 in proper direction, the blocks 56 and 62 may be adjusted in opposite relation and simultaneously and to equal extent toward and away from the axis of shaft 32 along the diameter thereof. Arcuate groove 69 in head 48, opening from groove 55, accommodate the eccentrics 66 and 61 when the latter are turned into positions projecting beyond the sides of blocks 56 and. 62.

An annular adjusting plate 12 is mounted about the rearward end portion of rod 68, this plate being provided with a squared opening fitting about a squared element of a stud 13 extending from the rearward end of shaft 68. A knurled thumb nut 14, screwing on the stud l3, normally holds plate 12 tightly against the rearward end of shaft 32, this nut 14 providing means for forcing rod 66 rearward through tubular shaft 32, so as to clamp the blocks 56 and 62 tightly within head 48 by means of the eccentrics 66 and 67, in an obvious manner, block 62 preferably being provided with bevelled shoulders which seat against corresponding bevelled surfaces of head 48 in binding contact therewith, as in my above identified patent. The adjusting plate 12 is provided with an arcuate slot 15 concentric with shaft 32, this slot being provided with a series of notches opening from its inner edge. These notches are adapted to receive the inner portion of a pin 16 secured in the hub of pulley 3i and projecting rearward therefrom, this pin projecting through the slot 15. By turning nut 14 off of stud 13 to proper extent, the adjusting plate may be moved rearward sufiiciently to be disengaged from pin 16, after which, by holding pulley 3i and turning plate 14, rod 68 may be turned so as to vary its angular relation to shaft 32 and effect desired adjustment of the slidable blocks 56- and 62. After the desired adjustment has been effected, plate 12 is returned to normal position with the pin 16 engaging in the notch of slot 15 corresponding to the adjustment made, after which nut 14 is turned tightly onto stud 73 for locking the parts together in the manner previously described. It will be seen that the pin l6 and the adjusting plate 12 provide a positive driving connection between rod 68 and shaft 32, assuring rotation of the rod with the shaft and, precluding possibility of casual variation in the angular relation therebetween. The arrangement is similar to that disclosed in my above identified patent and need not be described in further detail.

A crank pin 19 is secured to, preferably formed integral with, the outer or forward arm or plate 63 of the crank pin block 62. The crank pin 19 is disposed to one side of the axis of shaft 32, which axis coincides with the axis of the adjusting rod 58, and extends forwardly from plate 6-3. The crank pin 59 fits within the inner race of a ball bearing to mounted in a bearing block 8| of generally annular shape but nattened at its top and bottom. The bearing block BI is slidably mounted between upper and lower plates 82 and as, respectively, of a yoke structure 84. The yoke structure 84 comprises a body portion or block 85 preferably formed of a light metal, such as aluminum, and the upper and lower plates 82 and 83- are secured to body 85 by screws 86 passing through plate 82 and body 85, and threading into the lower plate 83, the lower ends of these screws being peened over as shown in Figure 4. The block 8-5 is provided with a noncircular bore extending vertically therethrough, this here receiving the interrnediate portion 81a of a plunger 81. The portion 81a of plunger 8"! is slabbed off at one side to provide a flat 811), the cross section of portion 81a of the plunger corresponding to the bore in block 85, as will be clear from Figure 5. The plunger Bl is also provided with an upper reduced portion 88 of cylindrical shape, i. e., circular cross section, which extends upward be yond the top of compartment 55 and is slidably mounted in a bushing 89 carried by a ferrule 3i? suitably secured, conveniently by set screws 95, in the top wall of the housing section it. Any suitable means, such as that illustrated in Figure 1, may be provided from lubricating the upper portion 88 of plunger Bl, as will be understood. a

The body or block 85' of yoke 34- is releasably secured on the intermediate portion S lo of plunger 87 in any suitable known manner, conveniently by means of socket headed set screws 92. The lower cylindrical portion of plunger 31 is slidable through a guide sleeve 93 suitably secured, conveniently by set screws, one of which is shown at 94, in thickened Wall 95 of housing section I8 at the bottom of compartment 5t. Suitable known means, shown in Figure l, is provided for lubricating the lower portion of plunger 81 in guide sleeve 93.

The front of compartment 54 is closed by cover plates 98 and 9? secured thereto by screws or in any other suitable manner. The upper" plate 82 of yoke 8 is provided, at each side thereof, with a forwardly extending tab I'Gli the forward surface of which is fiat and smooth. The tabs I00 are disposed to contact or be in close proximity to the inner face of the inner cover plate 88 which preferably is formed of a synthetic resin which is resistant to abrasion and provides a smooth surface presented to the tabs- Iti). The outer cover plate 99 may be and preterably is formed of a metal.

It will be clear, from what has been said, that when the shaft 32 is driven the plunger 8-lais reciprocated and the bearing block SI is reciprocated in the yoke 84 transversely of plunger 3?. The tabs Iiiil cooperate with cover plate at to restrain the yoke 84 against turning movement about the axis of plunger 8? thereby eliminating any play or looseness of parts which might tend to cause objectionable vibration and interfere With proper drive of the plunger. As will be understood, the bore in block 85 of yoke 65. extends through the plates 82 and 83, which preferably are formed of hard metal, such as steel, to guard against any objectionable wear of the elements of the yoke defining the bore therethrough.

The guide sleeve 93 extends downward a considerable distance below the wall 85. A support ing sleeve I02 is rotatably mounted on sleeve 9-3 by ball bearings I63. As will be clear from Figure 1, the assembly comprising the sleeve IE2 and ball bearings I63 is confined against endwise movement between wall 95 and a cap nut I54 screwing on the lower end of guide sleeve 93'. The supporting sleeve W2 is provided with a lengthwise outwardly opening channel or recess H35 in which is pivoted, adjacent its upper end, a block I 56, by means of a pivot pin IEl'I. A cover plate I it is secured in a suitable manner, con.- veniently by means of screws H39, to the side walls III] of the channel recess I65. Compression springs III, seating in bores in block I66 and confined between the latter and cover plate I08, yieldingly urge block I66 toward sleeve I82, the latter having a flat surface cooperating with the inner face of block tilt for positively limiting in.- ward movement thereof, as will, be clear from Figure l. A thumb screw I i2 is threaded through the lower portion of cover plate I08 and provides means for positively limiting outward movement of block Hit and for looking it, under certain conditions, against movement in either direction.

A tubular guide rod I I5 is secured in block IE6 and extends downward therefrom. A cutting tool guide member H5 is mounted in the lower por tion of guide rod i It. The member I I5 comprises a shank its pivoted at its upper end in rod IN by a pin tit, and a foot H3 at the lower end of shank Illi, this foot comprising a heel H9 and a:v toe I29. The foot I58 operates in slots I2-I- in rod. H4, extending from the lower end thereof. At its inner end toe I is provided with a V-shaped slot I'2I disposed to receive the outer edge portion of a cutting tool, such as a chisel. A wirespring I22, of appropriate form, is mounted. on pivot pin II? and contacts shank H6 of guide member I i5, urging the latter inward toward the axis of plunger 8'! so as to maintain toe I20, at groove I2I thereof, in contact with. the cutting. tool, as will appear more fully presently.

A guide sleeve I24, provided. with an interior bushing. I25, is slidably mounted on rod III: for vertical reciprocation thereon. The contactingv surfaces of. bushing I and rod I I4 maybe lubri-- cated in any suitable manner, conveniently by means of appropriately arranged wicks IZt and. I21, the wick 52-8 being disposed within guiderod' I It, there being aiitting lib-mountedin block Hit for supplying lubricant to wick I25, the cover plate I88 being suitably notched to accommodate fitting I 28, as will be clear from Figures 1 and 12. Sleeve I24 carries a tool block I29, conveniently formed integral therewith. The block I29 is provided with a vertically extending. socket for reception of the shank portion of a cutting tool, such as a chisel or a saw blade, secured block I-2t by suitably disposed set screws I35. The block 529 is further provided with. an inwardly extending finger ISI having in its inner end an arcuate groove I32 shaped to fit about a reduced neck I 33 at the lower end of plunger Bl, which extends downward beyond. the supporting sleeve itfl as will be clear from Figures 1 and 2. The lateral portions of finger i3I provide elements disposed between shoulder Itt at the upper end of neck I33 and abutment member I35 suitably secured about the lower end of neck Hi3, conveniently formed integral therewith. The sleeve #24 is thus connected to plunger ill for recipro cation therewith, while being capable of swinging movement toward and away from the plunger substantially radially thereof. In the movement of the machine over the work the cutting tool, such as a chisel or saw blade, is reciprocated and, being eccentric to plunger 37, trails the latter, the supporting sleeve I92 swinging about the axis of plunger 87 in accordance with changes in direction of movement of the machine, permitting the cutting tool to follow accurately the line or pattern being out. It is desirable that the assembly comprising the supporting sleeve I62 and parts carried thereby be damped to a certain extent in order to avoid the tendency, due to inertia, of the cutting tool to swing in either direction beyond the line or pattern which it should follow. To that end, I provide brake means comprising a tubular housing I34 threaded through sleeve I92 and open at its inner end, this housing carrying a plunger I35 contacting the guide sleeve 93. The plunger I35 is provided with a reduced stem I35 slidable through a hexagonal head [3? at the outer end of housing I3 5, the outer end of stem I33 being spread so as to prevent complete withdrawal 1 thereof through head I31. A compression spring R36, within housing I34, is confined between plunger I35 and head I37, efiective for holding the plunger in pressure contact with the guide sleeve 53. That provides a desirable braking eiiect which retards free swinging of the sleeve I62 about sleeve 93 for the purpose stated.

In practice the work is placed upon a suitable support and the machine is moved over the work in such manner as to move the cutting tool along a line or pattern to which the material or work is to be out. When the chisel or other cutting tool is out of the work it is in vertical position perpendicular to the work. When the chisel enters the work on its downstrcke, however, in the continued forward movement of the machine along the cutting line, the chisel is caused to I assume an inclined position. To permit of that, the tool guide member IIS may swing outward away from the reciprocating plunger 8?, sub stantially radially of the latter, this swinging movement of the member H5 being permitted by the spring I22. Also, in such cases, further outward movement of the guide member I I6 may be permitted by outward swinging movement of the guide rod II 4 about pin N31, to extent permitted by the thumb screw H2. Such outward movement of the guide member H5 is sufiicient to accommodate the required movement of the chisel or cutting tool. When the chisel, when used, is again withdrawn from the work on the upstroke, the guide member IIG, and with it the chisel, is returned to vertical position, and then follows the succeeding or cutting stroke of the chisel. The ability of the chisel to assume an inclined position, when subjected to outward pressure resulting from continued movement of the machine when the chisel is in the work, avoids subjecting the chisel to objectionable stresses with resulting bending or breakage thereof, while permitting movement of the machine over the work at increased speed and with increased smoothness, which increases the eiiiciency of the machine. But slight clearance between finger I3I and abutments I34 and I35 is required to permit of the outward and inward swinging movements of guide member I I6 and guide red I It. That slight clearance is not objectionable in practice but, if desired, may be obviated by so forming abutments I34 and IE5 and finger I3I as to maintain close contact therebetween at all times, as will be readily understood. In cutting material over approximately of an inch in thickness with a chisel, the thumb screw II2 should be turned. outward sufliciently to clear the block I06, permitting maximum outward movement of guide member H6, as above. In cutting material less than of an inch in thickness, the block I06 should be locked in its inner position by means of the thumb screw I I2, as above explained, thus reducing the maximum outward movement of guide member IIS. When a saw blade is used instead of a chisel, the extent of outward movement of the guide member H6 may be regulated, by the thumb screw II2, to suit the thickness and other characteristics of the material being cut, as will be understood.

By removing the cover plate I98 for the recess or channel in the supporting sleeve IE2, the guide rod I I4 may be swung outward away from plunger 87 sufiiciently to withdraw the slotted finger I31 from about neck I33 of plunger 81, clear thereof, it being noted, as shown in Figure 1, that the upper inner corner of the block I06 is appropriately cut away or bevelled to that end. By removing the cover plates 98 and 99 from the front of the machine, and threading the set screws 92 outward clear of the plunger 3?, the latter may be withdrawn downward through bushing 39, yoke 84 and the guide sleeve 93, as will be clear from what has been said. The yoke 84 may then be removed giving access to the bearing block 8| and to the crank block 83 and counterweight block 56 and associated parts. That is advantageous in that it permits ready access to the plunger and the associated driving and adjusting means for inspection, replacement or repair as may be required. By reversing the operation the plunger 81 may be inserted through guide sleeve 93, yoke 84 and bushing 89 and the parts secured in assembled relation, after which the finger I3l of block I2?! may be inserted between the abutment elements I34 and I25, about neck I33 of the plunger 82, and the cover plate I08 again secured in position.

A suitable lamp I40 is disposed at each side of the motor 26 and a plate MI is suitably secured, conveniently by screws, to the front wall I6 of the lower housing section 50. This plate is cut out from its lower edge and for the major portion of its width to provide a slot I 42 adjacent the guide rod H4. The light from the lamp I40 passes through the slot I42 and illuminates the work being operated upon. In addition, the motor 26 is provided with a fan not shown) effective for discharging air through slot I42 so as to blow away any chips or small particles of material produced during the cutting operation, which is conducive to accuracy. The provision of the lamps and of the fan, as and for the purposes stated, is disclosed in my above identified patent and need not be described in great detail here.

I claim:

1. In a cutting machine of the character de scribed, a housing having a compartment and a tubular guide member extending therefrom, a drive shaft rotatably mounted in said housing and extending into said compartment, a reciprocating plunger slidable through said guide member extending into said compartment and lengthwise removable and replaceable through said guide member, a cover plate secured over said compartment, a yoke in said compartment releasably secured on said plunger, and disposed in close proximity to said cover plate and restrained thereby against turning about the axis of said plunger, the latter being lengthwise engageable with and disengageable from said yoke when released therefrom, and driving connections between said shaft and said plunger effective for reciprocating the latter.

2. In a cutting machine of the character described, a housing having a compartment and a tubular guide member extending downward therefrom, a drive shaft rotatably mounted in said housing extending into said compartment, a reeiprocating plunger slidable through said guide member, a yoke in said compartment having a bore receiving said plunger, the latter extending upward beyond the top of said compartment with its upper end portion guided in said housing, means releasably securing said yoke on said plunger, the latter being lengthwise removable from and insertible into said compartment through said guide member when released from said yoke, a cover plate secured over said com- 10 partment, said yoke having tabs of relatively slight area disposed to contact the inner face of said cover plate and thereby restrain said yoke against turning about the axis of said plunger, and driving connections between said shaft and said yoke eiTective for reciprocating said plunger.

WILLIAM P. GALLAGHER.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 

